Golden-crowned Manakin

Gelbscheitelpipra ( Lepidothrix vilasboasi )

The Gelbscheitelpipra ( Lepidothrix vilasboasi ) is a species of bird in the family of Manakin, which is only known from two areas in the southwestern part of the Brazilian state of Pará.

Features

The Gelbscheitelpipra reaches a length of 8.5 centimeters. The male has a glittering greenish golden crown and nape. The lower back and upper tail-coverts are greenish yellow. The rest of the head and the top are green. The hand and arm swing, and the tail feathers are mostly black with broad greenish edges. The area from the chin to the chest is green. Abdomen and under tail-coverts are yellowish. The iris is light gray. The beak is pale bluish. The legs are pinkish- flesh color. The female looks similar to the male, the apex shows a slightly bluish tint, and both the top and the area around the rump is greenish. The voice is a whirring " prreee ", which sometimes sounds in rows.

Occurrence and habitat

The distribution area of Gelbscheitelpipra is limited to the area of the upper Río Cururu - rí, a tributary of the Rio Tapajós in the Serra do cachimbo, and on the region of the Concepto Jamunxim in the southwestern part of the Brazilian state of Pará. The habitat is moist forests at altitudes up to 200 m.

Way of life

The Gelbscheitelpipra feeds on small fruits and insects. Nothing more is known about his life.

Status

The Gelbscheitelpipra was discovered in 1957 by Helmut Sick at the headwaters of the Río Cururu - rí and described in terms of five. After the type was lost, until a male in May 2002 on the Rio Novo Progresso Jamunxim close, about 200 km from the Terra typica removed rediscovered. The site of the Río Cururu - rí is within the 400,000 acre Mundurucânia Forest Reserve, which is privately owned by the Brazilian Air Force and is strictly protected. Access is restricted and woodcutting is prohibited. The second locality at Río Jamunxim has been cleared for the construction of the road BR 163 Cuiabá - Santarém. In 2006, two Balzarenen in a selectively cleared forest area, about 20 km away from the area in 2002, discovered. The extent of deforestation in the area of Terra typica is unknown, but in the region of cattle breeding. The area near Novo Progresso is under enormous pressure due to the rising demand for grazing land and is one of the most vulnerable regions of deforestation in the Amazon. Due to the paving of the road BR 163 Cuiabá - Santarém and the increase in traffic to Santarém by the opening of soy markets an even greater habitat destruction is feared in the future. Currently, estimates BirdLife the existence of the Gelbscheitelpipra on 2500-10000 copies and classified the species as endangered.